Caddy Buys Into the Dream

Caddy Buys Into The Dream… 
The progeny of Oasis Dream have been highly sought after at this year’s yearling and foal sales, and indeed mares in foal to the Juddmonte resident were popular yesterday, and thus Mike Caddy of the Berkshire’s Heatherwold Stud had to dig deep to secure Morzine (GB) (Miswaki), in foal to that leading sire from the Juddmonte draft, for 180,000gns. 

Catalogued as lot 1471, Morzine–who has produced two winners from three foals of racing age–is a half-sister to Three Valleys (Diesis), winner of Royal Ascot’s G2 Coventry S. and placed in the G1 Phoenix S. and Dewhurst S. for trainer Roger Charlton. Transplanted to the U.S. later in his career, Three Valleys took the GII Del Mar Breeders’ Cup H. and GIII Oceanport S. and was third in the GI Citation H. Morzine is also a half to the dam of promising Australian sophomore Scissor Kick (Aus) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}) and her second dam is Kerali, who produced Juddmonte’s legendary producer Hasili (GB) (Kahyasi), the dam of Grade/Group 1 winners Intercontinental (GB), Cacique (Ire), Heat Haze (GB), Champs Elysees (GB) and Banks Hill (GB), as well as Group 2 winner and leading sire Dansili (GB). 

Caddy, who did his bidding through agent Jeremy Brummitt, noted the purchase was made for a new Hong Kong-based client who has “given me a few orders this year.” 

Caddy, who is in the international banking business, became involved in racing when he invested a bonus in a racehorse. He purchased Heatherwold Stud in 2003 and while he lives in Hong Kong for parts of the year, he keeps on a close eye on the Heatherwold operations, literally, watching most of the goings on, including foalings, via satellite closed-circuit television. Caddy has horses in training with William Muir, and is building a broodmare band by retiring some of his fillies to the Heatherwold Paddocks. Caddy noted that Morzine would join those mares. 

“She will go back to the farm and hopefully she will go on and produce some good winners,” he noted. “When you buy from Juddmonte you know you’re getting something they’ve spent years building up.” 

Morzine has a 2-year-old by Rail Link (GB) named Strong Contender (GB), a yearling by Raven’s Pass and a foal by Cacique (Ire), all of which have been retained by Juddmonte. 

Morzine was auctioned by Matt Prior, the newest addition to the Tattersalls auctioneer ranks. Prior, 29, has been a member of the Tattersalls bloodstock team since graduating from the Darley Flying Start program in 2012. He first took to the Tattersalls rostrum at the February sale, and made his highest sale to date when selling Magnolia Beach for 350,000gns at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training sale. In addition to his domestic duties, which includes coordinating sales and sales inspection, Prior’s Tattersalls role has also taken him overseas. He auctioned at Jamaica’s yearling sale in early November, and has also served as a bidspotter at Hong Kong’s Derby Sale. 

A short time later, Caddy and Brummitt went to 140,000gns for Exotic Isle (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), a daughter of the stakes-winning Paradise Isle (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}) carrying her first foal, by Dark Angel (Ire). Catalogued as lot 1487, Exotic Isle was hammered down to Anthony Stroud Bloodstock for 62,000gns at this sale last year. They added lot 1524, Janey Muddles (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) in foal to Intense Focus from Redmondstown Stud, to their haul later in the afternoon for 115,000gns.